THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

208

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

urging the legislature and administration to support and encourage Hawaii's AGRICULTURal community's efforts toward successful co-existence among its sectors and to recognize the economic, human, and environmental benefits of such co-existence in a diversified agriculture industry.

 

 

WHEREAS, agriculture is Hawaii's second-largest export industry and one of the largest contributors to the State's economic health; and

WHEREAS, the long-term prosperity of Hawaii's agricultural community depends significantly upon diversity in research, production, and farming practices; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's agriculture industry continues to evolve and expand, occupying vacant agricultural lands and providing employment in rural Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, having diversification in Hawaii's agriculture industry -- including organic, conventional and biotech farming, and agricultural research -- is generating significant opportunities for economic growth in both export and import markets; and

WHEREAS, successful diversification mandates that farmers be given the opportunity to choose which farming practices will best ensure the most productive use of their resources to reach their target markets in accordance with their personal preferences; and

WHEREAS, the long-term development of diversified, sustainable tropical and subtropical agriculture in Hawaii and elsewhere requires the continuing advancement of technological and scientific knowledge to achieve the best farming practices in all sectors of agriculture; and

WHEREAS, such knowledge and cooperation within Hawaii's papaya industry resulted in an identity preservation protocol with the Department of Agriculture that allowed more than eight hundred acres of non-transgenic papaya to coexist next to transgenic papaya and to meet certification requirements in the Japanese marketplace; and

WHEREAS, having public and private research, and the transfer of knowledge and technology in many new areas of agriculture, have and will continue to provide substantial benefits to human health and the environment and are therefore critical to the well being of Hawaii's people, as well as to billions of others in developing nations around the world; and

WHEREAS, organizations such as the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Enterprise Honolulu, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, and Hawaii Institute for Public Affairs are seeking to establish a broad-based dialogue on agricultural biotech as a result of community interest in agricultural research; and

WHEREAS, the benefits to the State's economy, human health, and environment derived from a diversified agriculture industry and knowledge-based agriculture research and technologies are of interest to all Hawaii's people; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislature supports the agricultural community's efforts to promote choice of farming methods, practices and crops and that it recognizes the economic value to the State of a diversified agricultural industry supported by mutually supportive co-existence among its sectors, and that it appreciates the value and importance of agricultural research for the benefit not only of Hawaii's farming community, but to farmers and peoples around the world; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture and the various and diverse agricultural interests, parties, producers, and agricultural stakeholders in Hawaii are requested to establish a dialogue and process to develop a framework of successful co-existence, with the goal of mutual success and prosperity for agricultural producers including organic, conventional, and biotechnology; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this dialogue be founded in fact and demonstrable science and that it result is a report to the Legislature and appropriate agencies about best practices and management plans to ensure success and co-existence among Hawaii's diverse agricultural interests; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the agricultural community is strongly encouraged to participate in community dialogues and communicate with the greater community on issues relating to agriculture; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Departments of Agriculture and Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii, whenever possible, are requested to assist and facilitate this process; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation is requested to bring the stakeholders together in a meaningful process toward co-existence; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture is requested to report to the Legislature about best practices and management plans to ensure success and co-existence among Hawaii's diverse agricultural interests; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture is requested to report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Dean of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources University of Hawaii, the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, the Hawaii

Farm Bureau Federation, the Hawaii Organic Farmers Association, and the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Diversified Ag Industry